RIVERS LIKES IT RAW ON E! EMMY SHOW.

Byline: Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Joan Rivers, who's been royally raked over the coals for her arrivals coverage at Hollywood's major awards events for E! Entertainment, sounds thoroughly unrepentant as she approaches this year's Emmyfest.

She declares she has no plans to do anything differently - including no changes in her preparation routine. ``It's all so extemporaneous ... just fly with it!''

Critics who've faulted Joan on grounds that she didn't even know the names of some of the celebrities she was interviewing - or that she's been too mean - don't bother the comic ``at all,'' she says.

``I know the people you should know. You know the ones who are the stars ... And every blond bimbo that comes by who has one role and you never see her again - you don't waste your time wondering if it's a Heather or a Shmether.''

Rivers, whose Oscar coverage last March included such observations as ``Helen Hunt doesn't weigh as much as Kate Winslet's arm,'' doesn't cop to viciousness, either. ``I'm there to tell the truth, and that's why the ratings are high and the show (her E! ``Fashion Review'') is so successful. If you're there saying, `Don't you look wonderful?' to a Della Reese, you're doing a disservice to the people watching, and you're doing a disservice to Della Reese. And these are not poor people who've spent their last salary check on an outfit. They've bought the services of other people and spent a great deal of money. And if you've got that stupid a stylist, maybe you should change.''

Hello again

Sharon Gless is preparing to face the grind of weekly TV once more.

``Since my mother died in March, I've been getting in shape, working with a coach, working out a lot. I'm getting myself mentally ready before I approach the networks about a series.''

With the exception of the Oct. 20 CBS TV movie ``The Girl Next Door,'' which Gless shot last year, she spent the last ``18 months or so focusing on my mother. I would fly back and forth from Fisher Island in Florida (where she and husband, Barney Rosenzweig, own a residence) to Los Angeles. And then, one day, the family priest called me in Florida and said, `Sharon, you'd better come.' And I went. I told Barney, `I'll see you later.' He understood. And for her last two months, I was with her every minute. I was there when she died. I was very blessed. I had a fabulous mom. I miss her a lot. There's no one whose face lights up when you walk into a room like your mother's.''

Retooling

Tim Allen is losing not one, but two, of his sitcom sons. You already know that teen heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas has left ``Home Improvement.'' Now comes word that youngest cast member, Taran Noah Smith, has also left the show - and they're scurrying to recast his character, Mark, with another boy. Meanwhile, they're also casting for the 7- to 8-year-old girls who will play Tim's twin nieces, who come to live with the family this season.

Keeping the flame

Michael Feinstein's ``Michael & George - Feinstein Sings Gershwin'' CD gets its official release this week amid celebrations honoring the George Gershwin centennial - and amid Feinstein's plethora of Gershwin-related concert dates, including a Lincoln Center gig Sept. 24. He describes the disc as ``more jazzy than the two Gershwin albums I've done in the past - with a very judicious use of electronic technology.''

Feinstein, who worked for Ira Gershwin for six years and remains friends with the Gershwin family, makes it clear he's the last fellow you'd find monkeying around with the classic music. ``A couple of years ago, there was an album called `The Glory of Gershwin,' which should have been called `The Gory of Gershwin.' They had Cher, Elton John, Sting - all these great singers - and they asked them to interpret Gershwin. It was a good idea, but the producers tried to update the songs and came up with a beast that was neither fish nor fowl.''

Together again

Former ``Murphy Brown'' castmates Faith Ford and Joe Regalbuto are sharing studio space again. Regalbuto's come in to direct an episode of Ford's soon-to-debut ``Maggie Winters'' sitcom.

With reports by Stephanie DuBois.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1) Joan Rivers

No holds barred

(2) Sharon Gless

There for her mom

(3) Tim Allen

``Home Improvement'' changes